The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-10-30
BRITISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

BRITISH PUBLIC SCHUOL.
NATURE AND RESULTS or THE EJE-
MEyTARY EDUCATION THEY AFFORD
heard Igehsels ena Voluntary seheets-ne
Free aehoets-A Snail Fee Enacted Ex.
eept frops the Feor-The Compulsory Law
Not Executea-Geed Deue By the seheeIs
LONDON, Oct. 1s.-vaccination had long
been compulsory in this country when they
made education obligatory in 1870. Tho iR-
ncrance Of some classes prior TO the institu-
tion Of tho School Boards was extraordinary;a
complete inability to read and write was ire.
guent oven among flrst-class artisans, small
trades people. and superior servants, and their
knowledge OF arithmetic was also Of tho most
infantile standard. Matters have now consid-
erably improved. though her Majesty still en-
lists recruits who cannot read, and house,
holders engage domestics who cannot write.
Ignorance now results sometimes from the
truantship OF tho children. spontaneous or
enforced: often from their incapacity to learn.
and not unseldom from the incompetence OF
the teachers It is not an easy task to obtain
tho attendance Of children at school in this
country, great number preferring to stay at
homo or play in the streets. and not few being
kept back by their parents. The obligation to
pay tho fec for attendance. tho little value at
tached to knowledge. tho absence OF parental
love. the use some children can 'be made OF at
home to help the motherl or to supply her
place. an dthe eagerness to turn their offspring
as soon as possible into bread winners. arc the
causes Of this breach Of the law by tho parents.
Tbe;vant Of intelligence In children IL habitu-
ally traced first to drink. Drunken parents
make hungry children, unruly children. imbs-
cile children. Secondly. to intormarriage.
Schools where there are many Of tho same
name have low percentage OF bright pupils.
Thirdly to epidemIcs - measles. scarlatina,
whooping cough. With lifted, poorly clad
children the consequences OF these complaints
are very often not only severe but injurious.
The incompetency OF the teachers arises
either from their not beingain the right place
for instance. is 1t not Q mistake to leave tho
youngest children. as have often seen them,
to tho care OF monitors OF IS or IA years OF age.
whereas their training requires judgment
and experience 2-or from want OF supple
ness and attention In the process OF teaching.
Tho elementary schools OF this country are
OF two kinds: tho board schools and the volun-
tary schools.
An elementary school In England is q school
at which elementary education is the princi-
pal thing done. and where the payment from
cents) per week. In cases Of fragrant destitu-
he manager nan claims It from the Guardians Of
The lee " Varies 6etween one penny and nine
child Of the laborer will pay one penny. the
There are those who contend that education
ought to be gratuitous In the popular schools
Classes having gradually taken exclusive pos
session and advantage OF endowments. m ostly
Intended BY their foundersto educate the poor.
Of place to discuss here but which, at tho same
time. must not be left pnmentioaYed; as may sy
day r5s
is that the, principal supporter Of the board
patron Of the voluntary school is . charitable
founder or an association Of founders. The
gsS s q s
pie consider the religious teaching of the board
school to be too general and TOO vague, or not
soeona ths sehoo are only
lished In localities which can guarantee an
gbsS Within Fl mess
other similar. institution. Though special
rate. which will not be less In London. for in
coming year. is the principal source Of income
of the board schools. these are. moreover, In
q the s paid by the and Of
Schools arc ar also entitled to the fees which
board schools charge and to the annual Par
calities where board schools DO not or cannot
exist. they have claim on the rate.
ss hs seaSo on rs sss dsS once This
peat his Visit without notice1he seldom does
Officially inspected under the most favorable
circumstances, teachers. pupils, rooms, desks
and and esps nx @ for S what
other hand. must add that it has been my
ssess and
been impossible to have had them carried on
END
to make the, pupils shine. and to show the
Vas to ana
out the real facts The inspectors report to
Visited school futls the conditions required
for the Parliamentary grants, and they give
In the year siding Aug. 81. 1885. the Inspect.
Wales. eontaInins 2s.5as Departments under
mediation for 5i45292 scholars. There were
on the registers Of the, schools the names Of
as gssSs s IL sss q ShsH sna US
and ad al sssys Il
only averaged 3.43S.425. have seen several
scholars of2k years. and only one. OF 16. While
tho increase OF the population during the same
year Is estimated at 30 per cent, the scholastic
reorganization has Increased a.Ss per cent,
Is calculated in England that school seats
should be provided for one-sixth OF tho total
population. The contributions from rates to
the maintenance Of board schools were also
advanced last year to the great anger and dis
gust Of the ratspayers from 81 .946 to 1885,.
$50; And the school pence from &1.79lO84 to
On the other hand. voluntary contributions
during the same period have fallen from
grants 70 q, elementary day schools rose IL 1886
It's. 2hd. per scholar In average attendance
Besides the elementary day schools. SAL night
schools, averaging an attendance OF 26.0S9
echolars were examined during the year. In
London the gross charge for each child will be
IS 0s. l0d. for the coming year. which, though
considerable, shows reduction OF a. on tho
present year. A. rate OF Sd. In the pound In the
metropolis would give to-day an income of
school fees and the receipts Of Parliamentary
grants would endow the board schools Of Lon
don with O. revenue OF 81 100000 and We have
seen that the rate for the coming year will not
DO 3d., but SID. No wonder the metropolitan
ratepnyer Is In bad humor. yet as there is q
Gneation Of developing the elementary tech
Meal instruction OF the boys, and OF teaching